Karl Fritzsch | |
|---|---|
 Fritzsch c. 1940 | |
| Born | 10 July 1903 Nassengrub, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary (Mokřiny, Czech Republic) |
| Died | Missing from 2 May 1945 (aged 41) |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Service |  Schutzstaffel |
| Years of service | Dachau 1934–1939 Auschwitz 1940–1941 Flossenbürg 1942–1943 |
| Rank | SS-Hauptsturmführer |
| Unit | SS-Totenkopfverbände |
| Commands | Schutzhaftlagerführer Auschwitz Camp Deputy [1] |
| Children | 3 |
| Other work | First suggested and experimented with using Zyklon B gas for the purpose of mass murder |
Karl Fritzsch (10 July 1903 – 2 May 1945) was a German SS official who served as deputy and acting commandant at the Auschwitz concentration camp from 1940 to 1941. Fritzsch is best known as the official responsible for the death of priest Maximilian Kolbe and, according to Rudolf Höss, first suggesting using poisonous gas Zyklon B and experimenting with gas chambers for the purpose of mass murder at Auschwitz. Fritzsch served at a number of Nazi concentration camps until 1944 when he was implicated in a corruption scandal and dismissed from his positions. Fritzsch was sent to front line duty and is believed to have died at the Battle of Berlin on 2 May 1945, but this is unconfirmed and his fate is unknown.
- ^ Jeremy Dixon; Tom Segev; Danuta Czech (21 February 2006). "Fritzsch, Karl SS-Hauptsturmführer (1903–1945)". ARC: Auschwitz Perpetrators. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.